James Wisniewski was born February 21, 1984 in Canton, Michigan. The fifth round, 156th overall selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Wisniewski is a graduate of the OHL's Plymouth Whalers.

A sound defenseman, Wisniewski played four seasons with the Whalers registering 187 points (52-135-187) while capturing numerous honours including; OHL First All-Rookie Team (2002), OHL All-Scholastic Team (2003-2004), CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman (2004) and CHL First All-Star Team (2004).

Following an impressive junior career, the Canton, MI native joined the AHL's Norfolk Admirals in 2004-05 and continued to hone his skills with the Hawks' AHL affiliate before seeing his first NHL action just prior to the 2006 Olympic break.

On the international stage, Wisniewski has won a gold medal at every major international junior tournament while skating for the United States. He captured gold at the World Under-17 Challenge (2001), the Under-18 World Junior Championship (2002) and the Under-20 World Junior Championship (2004). He made his first appearance in the World Championships in 2008 representing Team USA.

After parts of four seasons in Chicago, Wisniewski was sent to the Anaheim Ducks as part of a deadline day trade (March 4, 2009) that saw Sami Pahlsson go the other way.

Following the 2009-10 season Wisniewski was dealt by the Ducks to the New York Islanders in exchange for a conditional draft pick.

On December 28, 2010 Wisniewski was on the move again. This time traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for second-round pick in the 2011 draft and conditional 5th round pick in 2012.

After finishing the season with the Canadiens, Wisniewski's rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth round draft pick. After the trade he signed a six year contract with the Blue Jackets.

Wisniewski played four seasons in Columbus when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson, and a second round draft pick at the 2015 trade deadline.

At the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Wisniewski was traded once again to the Carolina Hurricanes for Anton Khudobin.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1999-00

Detroit Compuware Ambassadors

NAHL

50

5

11

16

67

5

0

3

3

4

2000-01

Plymouth Whalers

OHL

53

6

23

29

72

+20

19

3

10

13

34

2001-02

Plymouth Whalers

OHL

62

11

25

36

100

+39

6

1

2

3

6

2001-02

United States

WJ18-A

3

1

2

3

6

+5

2002-03

Plymouth Whalers

OHL

52

18

34

52

60

+35

18

2

10

12

14

2002-03

United States

WJC-A

7

0

4

4

6

-1

2003-04

Plymouth Whalers

OHL

50

17

53

70

63

+31

9

3

7

10

8

2003-04

United States

WJC-A

6

1

3

4

4

+5

2004-05

Norfolk Admirals

AHL

66

7

18

25

110

+4

5

1

3

4

2

2005-06

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

19

2

5

7

36

0

2005-06

Norfolk Admirals

AHL

61

7

28

35

67

+4

4

1

2

3

6

2006-07

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

50

2

8

10

39

+3

2006-07

Norfolk Admirals

AHL

10

0

6

6

8

+5

2007-08

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

68

7

19

26

103

+12

2007-08

United States

WC-A

6

1

2

3

6

+2

2008-09

Chicago Blackhawks

NHL

31

2

11

13

14

+6

2008-09

Rockford IceHogs

AHL

2

3

1

4

0

+4

2008-09

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

17

1

10

11

16

+3

12

1

2

3

10

2009-10

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

69

3

27

30

56

-5

2010-11

New York Islanders

NHL

32

3

18

21

18

-18

2010-11

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

43

7

23

30

20

+4

6

0

2

2

7

2011-12

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

48

6

21

27

37

-13

2012-13

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

30

5

9

14

15

-1

2013-14

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

75

7

44

51

61

0

6

0

2

2

10

2014-15

Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL

56

8

21

29

34

-10

2014-15

Anaheim Ducks

NHL

13

0

5

5

10

-3

2015-16

Carolina Hurricanes

NHL

1

0

0

0

0

0

2016-17

Admiral Vladivostok

KHL

16

1

3

4

39

2016-17

Chicago Wolves

AHL

21

4

7

11

30

+10

5

0

2

2

0

NHL Totals

552

53

221

274

459

24

1

6

7

27

OHL First All-Star Team (2004) OHL Defenseman of the Year (2004) Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team (2004) Canadian Major Junior Defenseman of the Year (2004)

Traded to Anaheim by Chicago with Petri Kontiola for Samuel Pahlsson, Logan Stephenson and future considerations, March 4, 2009. Traded to NY Islanders by Anaheim for NY Islanders' 3rd round pick (Joseph Cramarossa) in 2011 NHL Draft, July 30, 2010. Traded to Montreal by NY Islanders for Montreal's 2nd round compensatory pick (Johan Sundstrom) in 2011 NHL Draft, December 28, 2010. Traded to Columbus by Montreal for Columbus' 5th round pick (Charles Hudson) in 2012 NHL Draft, June 29, 2011. Traded to Anaheim by Columbus with Detroit's 3rd round pick (previously acquired, Anaheim selected Brent Gates) in 2015 NHL Draft for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson and Anaheim's 2nd round pick (Kevin Stenlund) in 2015 NHL Draft, March 2, 2015. Traded to Carolina by Anaheim for Anton Khudobin, June 27, 2015. MIssed majority of 2015-16 due to knee injury at Nashville, October 8, 2015. Signed as a free agent by Vladivostok (KHL), October 29, 2016. Signed as a free agent by Chicago (AHL), January 27, 2017. Signed as a free agent by Kloten (Swiss), May 26, 2017.